CL Superderby Buildup: Fan Vs Fan II
05/13/2003. Once again we have brought Salvatore Salvetti (Inter) and Alessio Dicara (Milan) in to discuss what's on their hearts and minds ahead of what has to be regarded as the most hotly anticipated Milan derby of all time.
Welcome back Signori! I bet you're shaking with anticipation with effectively your respective teams' season on the line.
SS: I admit I'm extremely nervous. You'd have to be dead not to be. I can honestly say that I've never wanted to win a game this much.
SA: And you Signor Dicara, what are your emotions before this truly spectacular clash?
AD: Ah…it is magical. I have not felt this emotion since perhaps the Cup Final of 1995, which sadly we lost. Honestly, I haven't been able to breathe properly all day…I am so excited! There is no doubting the magnitude of the game. In my opinion it dwarfs the other semi-final despite the class of both Real and Juve. The Milan derby is the game to watch and I would kill for a ticket in the Curva right now. Unfortunately, I have to be content to watch with my brother and friends at home. But, I assure you…come Tuesday night, we will all be out in the streets celebrating.
SA: So, obviously your think your team will go through. What makes you so sure?
SS: (interjects) False confidence.
AD: Signor Salvetti, it doesn't take a genius to see Milan is a better side. Let me put it this way: The best Milan is better than the best Inter and the worst Milan is also better than the worst Inter, so throwing form and injuries out the door, on a level playing field we would kill you any day. I have seen the great Milan that beat Deportivo, Bayern, Real Madrid, Dortmund, Juventus and Inter at different times in the season. I know in my heart I shall see the same Milan on Tuesday. The world will know after this clash, that we are for real and Juventus or Real Madrid should know that as well, heading to Old Trafford. Fancy a postcard from Manchester, my friend?
SS: I'm sorry, what did you say? I stopped listening when you said that the best Milan is better than the best Inter. We haven't seen the best Inter yet but I have a feeling we'll finally start firing on all cylinders on Tuesday.
SA: Just a gut instinct?
SS: You could call it that. I've been telling my friends that I see something special in our player's faces during interviews. It's hard to explain but there's an eerie calm in their eyes, which tells me that they're ready for this game like none other before.
SA: So you think Inter are actually going to score this time?
SS: Hey, that's a low blow but I guess we deserve it (laughs). You already know from last time what I think about Cuper and his defensive tactics but something tells me that he's finally going to have the courage to remove the shackles from our players tomorrow. Even he knows that the only way we're going to go through is if we outscore Milan.
SA: What do you think of Cuper, Signor Salvetti?
AD: I hate him…ha ha! What else did you expect from me? No, I'm just joking. Look, no one reaches three finals in three years by being a poor coach. I think his experiences with both Mallorca and Valencia were very unlucky. To be honest, I think in all three occasions his teams' were beaten by the better side. Last year's title loss, on the other hand, was foolish, but then again I think Salvatore would agree that it was more the players' fault than Cuper's. Having said that, I despise his style of play and would never want a coach like that for Milan.
SA: What do you see as the key to stopping Inter?
AD: I think three Inter players will define this game: Hernan Crespo, Francesco Toldo and Ivan Cordoba. Crespo can turn a game on its head all by himself and my beloved Nesta will have to be at his best…and I know that he will be…to stop him. Toldo and Cordoba meanwhile are the only thing standing between our super strikers and scoring those priceless away goals. I do think tomorrow the floodgates are about to open. Too many low-scoring derbies this year…it is time for us to make that giant Toldo look ordinary.
SA: And the key to stopping Milan, Signor Salvetti?
SS: I think we have to continue stifling their midfield as Inzaghi is a great finisher but is definitely not the type to make goals on his own. He's by far the player I'm most worried about because, as the world saw last week, Cordoba has Shevchenko in his back-pocket. I have no doubt we can contain Rui Costa and that impostor pretending to be Rivaldo, but if Pirlo plays that would raise my anxiety a couple of notches. The reason being that he sprays his passes from deeper, which would mean that we would have to ask an offensive midfielder to do a lot of defending in a game which we need to put the emphasis on attacking.
SA: I see. Ok, now the toughest question of them all. What will you do if your team go through to the final, and more importantly share with us how you would react if they were eliminated?
AD: I thought I told you already…I will dance in the streets after the game (grins). I think I will be in seventh heaven for about 24 hours and will surely drink my guts out. But, once I know the result of the other semi-final, I think another patient wait will begin. I have found out the hard way in life that nobody remembers second place. So, beating them would only be half the job done. We can celebrate when we are Campioni d'Europa! As far as losing…I am a Milan fan…I never think of losing.
SS: If…no check that…WHEN we win I'm going to party all night, then go wake Signor Dicara for the $100 he will owe me and then party some more! (laughs) I refuse to discuss what will happen in the case of a loss. Losing is not an option.
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